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Understanding Joint Employment

Understanding Joint Employment: What Are Your Responsibilities?

Ceramic manufacturers can be found liable for labor violations committed by subcontractors and other joint employers.
Richard Alaniz
September 1, 2017
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Do you hire other companies to complete jobs in your workplace? If so, do you realize that you could be liable for labor violations that the company commits while working there? Two pending cases (and one recently decided case) will alter how franchisees, general and sub-contractors, and other companies operate.
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residential construction

Builder Confidence Springs Back with Four-Point August Jump

The component gauging current sales conditions rose four points to 74, while the index charting sales expectations in the next six months jumped five points to 78.
August 29, 2017
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Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes rose four points in August to a level of 68 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).


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Brick and Structural Clay

Builder Confidence in 55+ Housing Market Strengthens

All three components of the 55+ single-family HMI posted increases from the previous quarter.
August 22, 2017
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Builder confidence in the single-family 55+ housing market strengthened in the second quarter of 2017 with a reading of 66, up 11 points from the previous quarter, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) 55+ Housing Market Index (HMI).


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U.S. Congressman Duncan Visits Tile Council of North America

Eric Astrachan, TCNA’s executive director, provided the congressman with a brief current state of the ceramic tile industry and discussed issues in Washington most relevant to the tile industry.
August 18, 2017
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U.S. Representative Jeff Duncan recently spent time meeting with the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) staff and touring TCNA’s facilities.


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Mohawk Ceramic Segment Increases Sales 9% in 2017 Second Quarter

Net sales for the second quarter of 2017 were $2.5 billion, up 6% vs. the prior year's second quarter or an increase of approximately 8% on a constant days and currency basis.
August 14, 2017
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Mohawk Industries, Inc. recently announced 2017 second quarter record operating income of $356 million, net earnings of $261 million and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.48.


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Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0: A Practical Application in Ceramic Kilns

The ceramic kiln industry offers many opportunities for innovation, where Industry 4.0 capabilities can be leveraged to unlock additional value.
Alberto Cantú Pérez
August 1, 2017
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Industry 4.0, also known as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), is proving to be a revolutionary trend that will shape the industrial landscape in the coming years. Adding intelligence to physical objects has never been as easy and inexpensive as it is today.
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controlled atmosphere furnace

Thermal Drying in Controlled Atmospheres

Certain materials require protection from oxygen or other atmosphere contaminants during or after drying.
Fred McLaughlin
August 1, 2017
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Many processed materials need to be thermally dried under controlled conditions. Most drying is done in open atmosphere or oxidizing ovens in batch, continuous belt, or tunnel feed styles. However, certain materials require protection from oxygen or other atmospheric contaminants during or after drying.
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Firing Foundations

Firing Foundations: What's Next?

Following the technological innovations of the past 45 years, what new firing technologies can the ceramic industry expect?
Greg Sullivan
August 1, 2017
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Across the board, the ceramic industry has benefitted from three significant pieces of technology introduced to us over the last 45 years: high-velocity combustion, low-mass kiln cars, and digital control technology. First came high-velocity combustion, which gave us high rates of convective heat transfer. It delivered improved temperature uniformity, faster cycles, fuel savings and increases in “A” grade recovery, as well as many other documented secondary benefits.
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